Learning Letter

This class was not what I was expecting. I was expecting to be reading a book a week that we would and then talk about how we would implement them into a classroom. Instead We read a ton of pedagogy and some novels. But we had some big projects as well. I was definitely not expecting the giant unit plan, that hung over my head like a  ceiling the whole quarter. I was a little stressed out about it, but I understood the practicality of it. As teacher we will be designing unit plan quite often, and this was just the first of many. Even though it was difficult I feel like I came out stronger, and wiser for it. I now have an idea of how to plan out a unit. Granted if we were actually to teach them, we would probably end up changing things, and running out of time for everything, but it's a great learning experience. Frustrating  yes, but great. I liked the book talks. Some of the books talked about I will most definitely read and may even recommend to students, or read out loud to students. There's a part of me that wishes I chose a different book, because Will Grayson Will Grayson  was a little complicated to explain since the two protagonists have the same name, but different story lines. But I love John Green, he is my favorite author. Even though he writes YA books, there are still amazing and can reach anyone. Like the Fault In Our Stars, who knew a book about kids with cancer could end so hopeful? The mini lessons I liked because I liked seeing the different techniques and choices my peers made. I also liked the feed back because it came as a student perspective, not a supervisor, they weren't necessarily looking for what was wrong, just pointed out what they saw. Supervisors don't really point out the smaller thing, that once changed could actually make a good improvement, but the "big" stuff that may or not actually be useful information.

Some of the pedagogy we read was incredible tough and dense to read through. It was probably a good thing we wrote blogs, because I can only kind of remember some of the things we read. I remember parts of readicide, but I think with everything that happened this quarter a lot of the reading have all blended together. As long as you can remember the important parts, like not ruining reading, or that students have learned how to fake read, and fake understanding. Also, that we shouldn't just use the banking method. Instead of just talking at our students we need to let them do the talking, and taking a big part in their own learning. Banking is usually boring and doesn't help the students learn. Although I have had professor use the banking method, and I was interested the whole time. It was "War and Society" and it was fascinating. I like history, and I had though about it sooner I may have tried to minor in it, but I can also pick up classes here and there as I go through life.

This course has made me realize that I need to spend more time preparing for things. Like the mini lesson, I knew everything I wanted to do /say, but i should've spent a couple more minuets writing on the board, and preparing before hand. I'm not 100% sure if I am ready to have my own classroom, but i have another year to figure it out.  Participation wise in this class I feel like mine pick up toward the end of the quarter. I am definitely one of those students who likes to sit there, listen, and not talk. But having most of my peers in other classes helped me feel more comfortable, and it was a good learning environment.  Which is something I will strive for in my own classroom.